etly.
"Nora, you come with me. Quiet now. Off to the left, eh, what? You
handle Sweeper, Jack."

"I'll drive the car," said Mrs. Waring-Gaunt. "Go on with Jack,
Kathleen."

"Come on, Miss Kathleen, you take the gun, and I'll look after the dog.
Let me have the whistle, Tom."

They had not gone ten yards from the car when the setter stood rigid on
point. "Steady, old boy," said Jack. "Move up quickly, Miss Kathleen. Is
your gun ready? Sure it's off safe?"

"All right," said the girl, walking steadily on the dog.

Bang! Bang! went Nora's gun. Two birds soared safely aloft. Bang! Bang!
went Kathleen's gun. "Double, by jove! Steady, Sweeper!" Again the
dog stood on point. Swiftly Jack loaded the gun. "Here you are, Miss
Kathleen. You will get another," he said. "There are more here." As he
spoke a bird flew up at his right. Bang! went Kathleen's gun. "Another,
good work." Bang! went Nora's gun to the left. "Look out, here he
comes," cried Jack, as Nora's bird came careening across their front. It
was a long shot. Once more Kathleen fired. The bird tumbled in the air
and fell with a thump right at their feet.

Sweeper, released from his point, went bounding joyfully over the
stubble. Jack rushed up toward the girl, and taking her hand in both of
his, shook it warmly. "Oh, splendid, partner, splendid, great shooting!"

"Oh, it was easy. Sweeper had them fast," said Kathleen. "And that last
shot was just awfully good luck."

"Good luck! Good Lord! it was anything but luck. It was great shooting.
Well, come along. Oh, we're going to have a glorious day, aren't we,
partner?" And catching hold of her arm, he gave her a friendly little
shake.

"Yes," she cried, responding frankly to his mood, "we will. Let's have a
good day."

"Where did you learn to shoot?" inquired Jack.

"Nora and I have always carried guns in the season," replied Kathleen,
"even when we were going to school. You see, Larry hates shooting. We
loved it and at times were glad to get them--the birds, I mean. We did
not do it just for sport."

"Can your sister shoot as well as you?"

"Hardly, I think. She pulls too quickly, you see, but when she steadies
down she will shoot better than I."

"You are a wonder," said Jack enthusiastically.

"Oh, not a wonder," said the girl.

"Wait till I get the birds back to the car," he cried.

"He-l-l-o," cried his sister as he came running. "What, four of them?"

"Four," he answered. "By jove, she's a won